Author: Nicole Ford Thomas

The strange times surrounding Covid-19 have simmered down in Ohio, giving way to our New Normal, which is a lot like the Old Normal, but with masks and less personal bubble violations. Kyle's work schedule is still chaotic, and will be until (unless?) people feel safe to fly again. All this time, though, we have … Continue reading Crafting a Better World

When I was a kid, I cleared out my closet of all clothes, toys, shoes, etc. In fact, rather than use my closet for its purpose, I lined the floor with blankets, rigged a flashlight to hang down from the bar, and dragged a huge box of my dad's old comic books from the 70s … Continue reading The Creation of Quill Cottage

What strange times we're in. Some folks can't wait for things to go back to the way they were before Covid-19 and others hope this is a catalyst for worldwide change. As for us, I'd like to live in a world where I can go out without being required to wear a mask. But I … Continue reading Feathering the Nest

It's been two weeks of social distancing in Ohio and tonight at midnight marks the beginning of another two weeks of mandatory shelter-in-place. At Quill Cottage, it has been business as usual. These are the benefits of being hermits during the winter months. It seems that boredom is setting in for those who have been … Continue reading Quill Cottage Quarantine

The last thaw has passed and we are happily snow-free. For the moment, anyway. It's Ohio. We know the threat of snowfall only really leaves us in June. But the weather has warmed enough to start putting things into motion and we're in full swing with garden planning. Our vegetable garden will be a learning … Continue reading All Paws on Deck

For the last few weeks, we've had a weird recurring weather pattern. On Wednesday, we would get dumped on with snow and ice as the temperatures dipped into the teens. Thursday through Saturday, we would close the curtains and barricade everything, relying on hygge to get us through without the sun. Then, Sunday would finally … Continue reading A Warm Welcome

This I know to be true: In an agricultural lifestyle, the winter is spent planning for the spring. The spring, in turn, is spent planning for the winter. Summer and fall are for preparing for winter and go by in a blur of activity. When you don't have the previous year of planning to fall … Continue reading Half-Baked Ideas

I'm a bit of a miser. That's not a secret, and I honestly wear the badge proudly. I wore my favorite pair of boots until the sole fell off entirely (at work, no less) and was fully prepared to find a cobbler or, y'know, just gorilla glue the thing back on myself for free. Kyle, … Continue reading The Shift, part 4

When Kyle and I were first married, we were broke. We were often hungry because the choice was between feeding our newborn or feeding ourselves. We lived in such a rundown trailer that there was a hole in the bathroom floor that you could see straight through to the dirt underneath. It was all we … Continue reading The Shift, part 3

In 2009, we bought our first house. After years of living in apartments, base housing, and even a trailer at one point, the decision was made to settle the family down. Kyle had a good job coming out of the Marine Corps, and we felt that putting down roots would be best for the family. … Continue reading The Shift, part 2